Secret Baby Spencer

She edged back, against the door, her eyes darting around the simple, well-appointed office. She frowned when she saw the clear top of his polished wooden desk, and she wondered if he was happy with his move. “Doesn’t look like you’re keeping yourself too busy around here,” she said with concern. He’d always been so active on Wall Street.

“That,” Seth murmured, angling his body toward hers, “or I’ve got plans for the desk.”

Those damnably irresistible lights in his eyes made clear what he meant. “Plans?”

Leaning swiftly, he grasped her fingers, the touch of his skin sending a current of electricity dancing up her arm. Panicking, her knees weakening, she told herself to let go of Seth’s hand, but something in its smooth heat made her twine her fingers through his. Stepping backward, he pulled her toward the desk, and even though her heart was beating out of control, she followed. Tell him about the baby! Tell him you’re marrying Dom! screamed a voice in her mind.

Another said, If you don’t make love with him now, Jenna, you’ll never get another chance. It’s only sex to Seth, nothing more, but you’ll always miss the feel of his arms wrapped around you. If you don’t do this now, you’ll never feel his chest, hard and crushing against yours, again, or the pounding of his heart. You’ll never have the opportunity to feel so physically close to a man again. What you share with him is so special, not something you’ll find with Dom.

Her hind end hit the desk. As Seth lowered her to the surface, she gasped. Scents of expensive aftershave and cologne came in tandem with starch from his shirt as his strong, warm body covered hers. Their hips locked. Just as she registered his arousal, he angled his head downward, his lips hovering. She opened her mouth, knowing things had gone too far. She had to tell him about Dom. Now! “Seth—”

His mouth covered hers. The swift capture of her lips communicated full intent, and the onslaught of his tongue challenged, plunging deeply, wetly. Long ago they’d discussed safe sex and knew they were both healthy, but on occasions such as this, they’d sometimes made love without protection like teenage fools. It was how she’d gotten pregnant. And since she already was, she figured there was no danger now. Except that you’re getting married! said a voice. But then, she hadn’t really said yes yet, had she?

“Seth,” she suddenly protested.

“Jen,” he’d murmured simply. “Oh, Jen.”

She tried to find her voice again, but she’d missed him too much over the past six weeks, and the power of his kisses were more than she could stand. Later, she’d be furious over her lack of willpower. Later, she’d be worried about this momentary, understandable lapse, but she’d tell herself she had every right to go through with her plans to marry another man.

Besides, Seth didn’t care, did he?

Her mind hazed as her hands cupped his shoulders, then glided over the back of his crisp cotton shirt. No, Seth didn’t care, she told herself as a dark strong hand slid effortlessly down her lace top, opening the buttons, right before effortlessly opening the front catch of her bra. No, he could never love her, she gasped as his mouth covered a nipple, the slow, sensual swirls of his tongue seeming to touch the core of her.

She wanted to feel his chest.

That was her last coherent thought as her hands fumbled with the knot of his tie, then the buttons of his shirt. Pushing apart the sides, her palms cupped rock-hard pectorals, then her fingers delved hungrily into hairs that felt like tangled silk. Vaguely, she was thinking about the fact that he probably didn’t want children. No, whenever she’d commented on how cute they were, playing in the parks in New York, he’d never said anything affirming.

Now his hands glided up her outer thighs, pushing up the skirt she should have known better than to wear because she knew how much it would arouse him. She tried not to buy into the illusion she’d allowed herself for the past year and a half, the illusion that Seth really did care, but only spoke through his body, rather than in words. It was a nice illusion. And it seemed so plausible right now. Surely, no man kissed like this if he didn’t love a woman.

“Seth,” his name escaped with a soft moan, the core of her aching as he drew down her tights and panties.

“Jen,” he whispered again, his blistering hot mouth sweeping hers again as his trousers dropped. And then he was inside her. Feeling him so deeply filling her, she flung back her head, drifting to a place where only he could take her. No man had ever given her this kind of pleasure. Suddenly, she wanted to cry, knowing she could never live without this kind of passion, but that she’d have to. I should have…should told him, she thought incoherently. Have to tell him right now… And then the thoughts were gone and she shattered. His release came with hers, tearing at her heart. Wasn’t this kind of perfectly choreographed sex almost unheard of?

But Seth didn’t love her! She had to move on, to marry Dom. Her senses still reeling, she quickly began to right her clothes, furious at herself but knowing she had a responsibility to herself and to the coming baby. Forget Seth! She was starting a family.

“Seth,” she managed weakly, her body still awash with his heat as she slid off the desk, tugging down her skirt. “I can’t believe this happened,” she began, running a hand through her hair. “But I know you’ll understand. I think we can talk reasonably. We’ve known each other such a long time, shared so much, and while I know we’ve never…uh, pretended to mean more to each other, I think we can speak openly here.”

Nodding, he buckled his belt, shooting her a gentle smile. “All of Tyler’s wondering why you’re in town. And so am I. So, go ahead and say whatever’s on your mind.”

“I know it’s only been six weeks,” she began, wishing she hadn’t made love to him, but trying to tell herself this visit was still going fine, that she could recoup her losses, “however, a lot’s happened since you left New York.”

Looking pleased in a way she couldn’t quite understand, Seth eyed her playfully as he knotted his tie. “Go on.”

Forcing herself not to notice that those irresistible dark brown eyes were as warm as whiskey mixed with liquid smoke, she tried to prioritize her thoughts, then she forced herself to continue. “I…well, the first thing I guess you should know is that Dom and I are getting married.”

Chapter Three

“Married? After what we just did?” Seth managed, unable to process what she’d just said. Surely he’d misunderstood. Jenna wasn’t marrying another man! She couldn’t! His body was still on fire. His thighs were weak from how she’d sapped every last drop of his strength, and his voice was low and raspy from the raw way he’d kept whispering her name. “You’re telling me this after making love to me, Jenna?”

“We didn’t make love,” she protested nervously, quickly buttoning her top and tucking it into her leather miniskirt. “We had sex.” She colored. “There’s a big difference, Seth. There really is.”

Given the circumstances, her pointing it out was sorely offensive. His lips parted in exasperation. “You don’t think I know that?”

Exhaling a whoosh of annoyed breath, she arched a thin, dark, perfectly tweezed eyebrow and challenged, “Do you?”

If he was honest, maybe not, but under the circumstances he hardly wanted Jenna enumerating his deficiencies in relationships with women or otherwise probing his sensitive spots. For the first time, he silently damned her for knowing him well enough to guess his Achilles’ heel. The truth was, he really didn’t have much experience with women. Oh, he loved sex, of course. That was a man’s lifeblood as far as Seth Spencer was concerned—an attitude shared by all the Spencer men—but when it came to mixing pleasure with emotion, Seth had always avoided women. Until Jenna.

“I guess you make love to Dom?” he said now, trying to keep his tone even. But when could Dom and Jenna have gotten together, a voice in his mind asked. And if what Jenna said was true and she was getting married, why had she made love to Seth now?

Forget it, Seth thought. A relationship with Dom simply couldn’t have progressed to the point where they were getting married. Seth had only left New York six weeks ago! Besides, he, not Dom, had been dating Jenna for the past year and a half. Sure, deep down he’d wanted to head back to New York and claim her, but Seth had known that was impractical. He had a bank to run.

Yesterday, however, he’d begun considering calling Jenna in Manhattan, to see if she’d changed her mind and might want to keep in touch with him. He’d barely admitted it to himself at the time, but he’d been considering suggesting that Jenna fly to Tyler for a long weekend visit…. Seth hadn’t been sure he should take that risk, though.

And now Jenna was in Tyler. Just moments ago she’d been half naked and lying across his desk, too, and now Seth simply couldn’t grasp what was happening. Had Jenna really said she was marrying Dom Milano?

She didn’t bother to answer his question. He watched in stupefaction as she straightened her top, then he listened to the rustling fabric of tights as her endlessly long, showgirl legs scissored toward the door. As furious as he was, he had to admit he was affected by her graceful movements. She looked like she was dancing, not fleeing his office as if the hounds of hell were on her heels. When she turned, Seth was pleased to see her chin quivering. It was a show of weakness virtually unknown to Jenna, and while he wasn’t proud of it, Seth hoped she was feeling even guiltier than that uncharacteristic tremor indicated, especially if she was really marrying Dom.

But she’s not. She can’t be. It’s impossible. Besides, even if she was, why would she come all the way to Tyler. Once more Seth reminded himself that for the past year and a half she’d been dating him, not Dom, then pure fury whipped through him. Had Jenna been sleeping with Dom while she was seeing Seth?

He drew in a deep, steadying breath, but his mind continued to race. He had a million questions, but he was far too much of a man to make himself vulnerable. He just wished he couldn’t so easily see Dom’s appeal, but Dom was one of those sexy, swarthy Italians women always swooned over. He looked like a younger, taller Al Pacino, and he managed to share female interests without ever seeming unmasculine. He was a clotheshorse, for instance, just like Jenna, and Dom could talk as enthusiastically about street rumbles he’d fought during his youth in Little Italy as he could about other things Jenna loved so dearly, such as art shows and foreign films.

Grinding his teeth, Seth had a flash fantasy in which Dom was translating Italian movie subtitles for Jenna in a seductive voice, and then Seth tried not to recall the knowing look in Dom’s teasing, flashing dark eyes. Dom very definitely possessed the kind of challenging male gaze that promised a woman passion, and as he visualized that insinuating look, Seth’s fingers curled, knotting into tight, angry fists.

“I’d prefer to keep the specifics of my relationship with Dom private,” Jenna was saying stiffly from her place at the door. “But I—I thought you should, uh, at least know what was happening. Actually, Dom insisted you be told this. And…well, Seth, there’s something else I really need to tell you now….”

“I’ve heard enough already,” he growled under his breath, shoving his clenched hands deep into the pockets of his trousers, largely so she wouldn’t see him fidget and realize how affected he was by this news. “Jenna,” he continued, raising his voice but managing to keep it thoroughly controlled. “Let’s stick with Dom for the moment. If you’re marrying him, why didn’t you bother to tell me when you waltzed into my office?”

“How could I? You didn’t give me a chance!” she burst out, her voice still hoarse and tinged with arousal, the dark color that suffused her cheeks deepening to a guilty scarlet.

“You’re right about that,” he muttered, unable to take his eyes from her as he thrust a frustrated hand through his short dark hair. Gritting his teeth, he decided she had some nerve looking so damn gorgeous, standing against the door, so tall and slender, her scrap of a skirt topping those annoyingly long, luscious legs that had been wrapped around his waist just minutes ago, squeezing the breath out of him.

Seth bit back a groan. He’d missed her so much. Even now, her silken red-streaked hair looked too touchable, feathering against poreless cheeks that had been as smooth as water under his mouth. Her lips were swollen, berry-red and pleasantly bruised from the needy, insistent crush of his kisses. Despite the situation, looking at her made heat pool in his belly, filling him with ravenous lust all over again. He glanced at the desk, then blew out a murderous sigh.

“Okay,” he forced himself to say, moving toward her, his mind whirling, his voice taking on a harder edge. “You’re absolutely right, I didn’t give you a chance to talk to me when you got here, but you didn’t exactly complain about it, did you, Jenna?” Hadn’t she come here for exactly what he’d given her? Hadn’t she been going crazy without him? His mind still couldn’t quite process what she’d said about Dom. “What did you expect me to do?” he bit out when she didn’t respond, suddenly unable to contain his uncertainty any longer.

“Expect you to do?”

“Yes…when you come all the way here to Tyler and waltz into my office dressed like that.”

She stared down, looking appalled. “Dressed like what?”

She knew what. Seth’s lips parted in shock as his eyes drifted upward, over the sinfully short skirt, to the powdery lace top that so snugly cupped her full breasts. The collar wasn’t fully buttoned, and even from here, Seth could see ample cleavage. No, he decided, it definitely wasn’t his imagination. Jenna’s outfit was calculated to drive a man wild. And it had worked.

She was surveying him with nonchalance that had to be feigned. “What happened is all my fault, I assume?”

As if I attacked her. “Since when is making love anybody’s fault?” he couldn’t help but challenge.

“We had sex,” she corrected.